My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group

is so pretty,

a knife and

the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake, what

that, the head of the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a Happy

the ‘Happy

her eyes and

must blow out the

her head to indicate to Julian that there was no need to

The

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

your birthday, Miss Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come

lowered her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even

gentled and, under the gazes of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give the cake out to the

say thank you!”

their paper plates, the children raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and the whole scene was

light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first

thing right now is to take

wanted it, anyway, so I might as well

told her, “Go on upstairs, then.

she turned and headed

apartment and

door was propped open by a large hand

her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it.

out on

explaining himself, he slid sideways into the house and shut the door before surveying

“I see you’ve been getting along

took two steps

pulled off his necktie and threw it onto

sneered, “I suppose you

approached her, forcing her back

no idea

and pulled, she staggered after him